Signal-alarm for switches.



SIGNAL ALARM FOR SWITCHES.

APPLICATION FILED mac. I9. 1916.

1,25%, 19, Patented Jan. 22, 1918.

15' 7 Z l E 11,

U. 51 v x 1 :ufl A3 In? 50 GABOB ZBICSI, OF G AB-Y, WEST VIRGINIA.

SIGNAL-ALARM FOR SNITCI-IES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 22, 191.8.

Application filed. December 19, 1916. Serial No. 137,790.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GABOR Brosr, a subject of the King of Hungary, residing at Gary, in the county of McDowell and State of Vest Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Signal-Alarms for Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to safety-signals for railway switches, and the chief object of the invention is to combine with the movable portion of a switch rail means where by to notify the switchman or other workman, when the switch is in open position.

These and other objects are attained by the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the device in connection with an open switch.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the device in connection with a closed switch.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken approximately 0n the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view, the position of the device being indicated in dotted outline, and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4. i

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts, whereof the numerals 10 and 11 denote the usual parallel steel rails on which the train travels, while the numerals 12 and 13 indicate the parallel switching rails by which the traveling train is diverted to another track.

Fig. 1 shows the switching rails in open position with respect to the rails 10 and 11, while Fig. 2 shows the switching rails in closed positionwith respect to the same, so as to engage the flanges of the revolving wheels of the moving train in order to clivert the train from the rails 10 and 11. 14- indicates one of the usual ties or sleepers which are employed to support the rails and to secure them in position against displacement. In order to provide a housing or a casing for an electric switch, I provide the tie or sleeper 14, employed for the support of the switch rails 12 and 13, with a cavity as 15, the upper ends of the cavity on opposed sides being preferably extended to provide angular cut-out portions 16. This cavity is provided. in the sleeper directly underneath the laterally movable portion of a switch rail as 12.

The electric switch secured in the bottom of this cavity is not unlike the usual electric switch employed for throwing a circuit into and out of operation. the insulated base-plate 17, which is provided in the usual manner with the spacedapart posts 19 and 20, to the lower ends of which are secured, by the binding nuts 21 and 22, the insulated conducting wires and 2 1. The plate 17 is firmly secured to the bottom of the cavity by screws as 18.

From Fig. 4 it will be seen that the posts 19 and 20 are spaced from each other in the general direction of the length of the rail. Moreover, from Fig. 3 it will be observed that the post 20 is located in the plate 17 in that position which marks the limit of the movement of the switch rail 12 when in open position.

Pivotally secured to the post 19 over the terminal contact 19' is a bridging switch arm 27, the forward end of which engages the terminal contact 20 on the upper end of the post 20. The said arm 27 is provided with an upstanding insulated lever 28 which is adapted to engage a hole 29 provided for the purpose in the underside of the rail 12. By this arrangement, the movement of the rails from closed to open position advances the lever 28 so that the arm 27 is brought into engagement with the contact 20' where-- by to close the electric circuit for the purpose of notifying the switchman or other railway attendant of the fact that the railwav switch is open.

The housing is completed by seating a plate 25 in the opposed cut-out portions 16, and by securing it to the sleeper by means of screws 26. Said plate 25 is provided with a suitable slot 25' for the reception of lever 28.

As a means of notifying the watchman or attendant as above explained, I employ an ordinary electrically operated alarm bell 30, which is secured in any convenient place in the office or booth of the switchman or other attendant. As a source of current, a dry battery is preferably employed, although if desired the necessary electrical connections may be effected with suitable transformer connections. where a general source of current is available. The circuit It comprises is completed by connecting the wires 23 and 24 with the battery 31 and with the alarm bell 30, in the customary manner.

From the foregoing the operation of the device will be obvious. W hen the switch is closed so that the switch rail 12 is in contact with the rail 10, the arm 27 is disengaged with contact opening the circuit. On the other hand, when the switch is opened, the arm 27 is moved into engagement with the contact 20 thereby closing the circuit and sounding the alarm bell.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is 1. In a safety-alarm for railway switches, a housing located directly below a movable switch rail, a slot in said housing equal in length to the movement of said rail, an electric switch in the housing having two termi nal contacts, one of which is fixed in the vertical plane of said rail when open, a bridging contact arm pivoted upon the other terminal contact and engageable with the first one to close a circuit, and insulated means through said slot positively connecting said bridging arm with said rail whereby coincidently to move the former with the latter. a

2. In a safety-alarm for railway switches, a housing located below a movable switch rail, a slot in the top thereof equal in length to the movement of said rail, an electric switch in the housing having two terminal contacts, one of which is fixed in the'vertical plane of said rail when in open position, a bridging contact arm pivoted upon the other terminal contact for engagement with the first one to close a circuit, a lever fixed on said bridging arm and extending through said slot, means for positively connecting said lever with said rail, an alarmbell, a source of current, and electrical connections to complete the circuit substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

oABoR BICSI.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents,

Washington, D. C. 

